A Little Sidetrack

Do you ever get sidetracked?  Especially when things are going really good?

It's like you're right on course so you don't have to focus quite so hard on the given task.  You're able to put it on mental auto-pilot so you can concentrate more deliberately on other things that require attention.  Then wham-o!  You notice you took a fork in the road somewhere and took off on some wild trajectory.

I have been known to begin a simple task that I've done a b'zillion times, space out for a bit, then wake up to wonder, "Wait.  Where was I going?  And how did I get here?"  Wherever here is.  Which is usually in the middle of nowhere.  Or the kitchen.  Holding something weird like the telephone, a roll of duct tape and the dog's leash.  Which makes me wonder if I was planning to call Jack Bauer to take my dog for a walk.  Because that's how my mind works. 

Scary, I know.

Those of us who are quasi ADD-DD-DDDD-D (namely me) are most susceptible to the whole side-tracking phenomenon.  Daily.  Or, in my case, hourly.  And that's on a good day.  Wild trajectories comprise the better part of my existence.  It's a good thing the world is round so I eventually end up getting where I was headed. Eventually.

She Lives got a bit side-tracked for a time.  (Excuse me while I act surprised.) When I did a *snap* and looked around I realized I'd lost touch with some of the blog friends I'd developed relationships with prior to my blogish space-out, I lamented.  And repented.  So, the month of December was spent reconnecting with some of the best blog buds a mental case girl could ever have.  I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it.  Or maybe I'm choking on this cinnamon roll.  Either way . . .

Today, I'd like to introduce you to one of my not-so-long lost blog buds.  (Make new friends but keep the old, right?) 

As an aside, reconnecting with blog buds in December is a good plan.  It's like sending out Christmas cards to folks you haven't visited with in a year.  Just in case you ever do get sidetracked by life.

Now, where was I going with this?  Phone, duct tape, dog leash...?  Oh, yeah! 

I first met up with her blog in the fall of '06 and immediately felt the kind of connection you get when you just know you're going to like someone but you wonder if the feeling will be mutual because insecurities just mess with your head.  She's cute and funny and writes well and is always chipper and upbeat even when she's being serious.  And I just wanna be.

The more I read her blog and swapped emails with her, the more I realized she's almsot as nit-witted as I am a lot like me in some ways.  We definitely shared some underlying goals for our blogs.  But she stayed on track while I got distracted. 

When we reunited it was a beautiful thing with flower petals floating down from the sky sun-drenched skies and choruses of angelic voices rejoicing all around and woodland critter frolicking about other sappy movie stuff.  Either that or I had too much fruitcake over the holidays.

Yesterday, she touched my heart with this post.  Which reminded me of my dad.  I think it was the third time I've ever reached for Kleenex while reading a blog post. Ever.  It wasn't sad, just touching.  Especially with me sitting here days away from the anniversary of my dad's passing a few years back.  Yeah, I still miss him.

She also writes for some of the online blog magazines 'round the 'sphere.  Because when you don't let yourself get sidetracked and you have a great blog and scads of people love reading what you write, that happens.  You'll know what I'm talking about when it happens to you. 

So, give it up for my friend, Robin at Pensieve everybody!  But be warned - She's way addictive!!  And just as adorable on Twitter as she is on her blog.

(Lova ya, girl!  If I get sidetracked again, hit me upside my addled head with a fruitcake or something.)

Have you lost touch with some of your blog buds?  Reconnecting in the New Year can be a good plan, too.  Don't you think so?

Oh. Almost forgot.  This post is part of a new meme.  'Cause I don't get all sappy for no reason, y'all.

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

Comments

[deb]

great post... i get sidetracked, too. sometimes i'll be driving and kind of "come to" and think, "i wonder how many red lights i've run"...not good! i've been sidetracked in blogtopia, too, and definitely need to spend some time catching up.

see you next tuesday!

[Beck]

Lovely, lovely post.
It's HARD not getting side-tracked! REALLY REALLY HARD! Good for you for figuring out what you want from blogging and how to get back to that spot!

[Kim H.]

Wow! Great post - I think every day I give new meaning to walking in circles, wondering what the heck was I doing?.....

Anyway, I went to Robin's post and yes, it was touching - and I loved her idea to sit down and write someone you love a hand-written letter. I'm definitely a believer that hand-written letters are an art form.

So, from one ADDDDD girl to another - have a great week - now I need to go do something - except I can't remember what that was. Guess I'll get some more coffee! :)

[Jay @ HalftimeLessons]

Oh Carol, Bless your heart...I have SEVERE ADD...my wife must spend most of her time thinking of ways to kill me without evidence.

Great post on Robin, Thanks SO much for the referral...I really enjoyed her blog a lot, as well as yours again, and have made sure BOTH are on my reader.

BTW - I fixed your Mr linky...there was something wrong with it, so now people can find you!

Thanks SO much for being a part of this Inaugural Tuesday's Tribute!!

Jay

[Mulled Vine]

My wife gets side tracked like that, particularly in conversations. The scary thing is that after years of marriage I have developed the ability to keep all the dangling conversation threads in my head, so that if she continues anyone of them I am able mostly to understand what she is talking about!

[Carol]

deb: I so did that last night on the way home from rehearsal - ran a red light with the sax player and keyboard player in the car with me. They're like, "You can drive a band, but you not a car." And I'm like, "Especially with half the band in it." (pretending I've never done that before)

Beck: I'm still trying to figure it out.

Kim H. We're sisters in spirit. I can tell.

Jay: Thanks, man.

Mulled Vine: God bless you. And my husband.

[Amy]

I am so ADD, I can relate! Loved the post at "Robin at Pensieve".

[Brenda]

Sidetracked? No, not me. I like to call it multitasking...and I am the Queen of it. So, don't go dissing my queenliness. Wait, this was a tribute wasn't it? Heading over to visit Robin, and I promise to not multitask while I do it:)

[Robin ~ PENSIEVE]

AGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

WHAT A SURPRISE! WHAT A LOVELY GESTURE (regardless of whether or not you "had" to 'cause it's a meme thingie).

AGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!! (more gasps of delight & surprise) :).

I'm so glad to discover this little post; it might well be the best one you've ever written.

I kid! I kid! It IS one of the sweetest most appreciated post you've written, I can tell you that much. Do you know how much your kind words have blessed my heart? My soul? My spirit? My fingers? My toes? My left eyelashes? The birthmark on my left hand (seriously).

Thank you, Carol. The funny thing is I've always held you in such high regard, hoping you'd feel that way about me! When you dropped off the sphere (and yes, I noticed) I prayed for you; I was hoping there wasn't "something" going on that you couldn't talk about for personal reasons. But then I got REAL busy and my blog reading isn't what it used to be (remember when I was the most committed commenter EVAH? s i g h). I have a bunch of wonderful blogs in my reader...sometimes I skim 'em, sometimes I click through, but more often than I want to, I clear the reader so I won't feel so guilty :(.

However, with the advent of the New Year, I have determined to find a balance in reading/commenting/writing, etc. This is confirmation of how nice it is to BE in community. I MISS my old reads; so thank you not only for this little surprise, but for affirming what I've already felt myself.

YOU....RAWK!!

xo

:)

[Robin ~ PENSIEVE]

p.s.

Forgive me for writing the longest comment in the history of the world.

amen.

[Shannon]

Hello, ADD, MY NAME IS SHANNON. I hear you, girl.

And this was a lovely tribute--Robin is a dear.